The Darkest Hour-- Part II

‘Oh, no, there are three of them.’ Kagome raised her bow and aimed. ‘You can do this, Kagome. You can beat them.’

She let the arrow fly, felling the first demon. However, two more of the panther demons still remained. Ignoring the tremors in her hands, the girl drew another arrow and fired once more.

However, she was not as lucky as she had been in her first shot. The demon stumbled but quickly regained its feet. Roaring, it rejoined its companion in the charge.

‘I only have time for one more shot. They’re just too fast. It’s not going to be enough!’

Even as those thought crossed her minds, Kagome drew yet another arrow. Her hands were steady as she aimed. She resolved to fight as long as she could. It was her only chance.

* * * * *

“Kilala!”

The cat-like creature immediately transformed into its larger form. Sango secured her weapon before swinging astride Kirara’s back. Miroku followed, placing his staff across Sango’s abdomen.

“Are you sure you can ride?” the demon exterminator asked, eying the priest’s injured shoulder.

He nodded. “I’ll be fine, but we must hurry. I have a feeling that they’re going to need our help.”

“Stay here, Shippo,” Sango ordered.

The small demon gaped at her. “You can’t leave me here, especially if Kagome’s in danger!”

“Don’t argue,” she growled. “You’d only slow us down, Shippo. Go back to village and stay with Kaede.”

The fox pup wisely shut his mouth. He began to run toward the village, his whimpering carried on the wind. Assured that he was obeying her, Sango urged Kilala toward the well. Sensing the urgency, the cat-like creature ran with all her speed.

“You didn’t have to be so hard on the boy, Sango,” Miroku said, his tone rebuking but gentle.

She frowned, bowing her head briefly. “We don’t have time. I hope we’re not too late.”

* * * * *

The arrow flew. However, the uninjured panther demon easily jumped aside. Its companion was not so lucky. Roaring in pain, it collapsed into the ground.

Kagome didn’t even see her accomplishment. She ran with everything she had toward the well. ‘Just a little bit further,’ she thought, running faster at the fallen panther’s roar.

A wall of black suddenly appeared, blocking her path. She cried out in surprise. As she scrambled backwards, she quickly produced an arrow.

The panther swung at her, knocking the bow and arrow out of her hands. Kagome screamed again. She scrambled to her feet, desperate to get away. But the creature would have none of it. It pounced, easily knocking the girl to the ground.

‘So, this is how it ends,’ she thought. It was funny. She was going to die right by the well where the whole crazy adventure began.

But she couldn’t die. Not then. There were still jewel fragments to recover. Inuyasha, whether he realized it or not, would need her help to get them before Naraku. People were counting on her.

“Get off of me!”

The panther growled, baring its fangs. The young woman struggled violently. Yet, her attempts to throw the monster off only seemed to provoke it further. It began clawing her, drawing blood with each swipe.

“Get off!”

“You heard the lady!” A blur of red collided with the panther demon, sending it flying. Inuyasha risked a glance behind him. “Kagome, are you all right?”

She rose shakily to her knees. “I. . .yeah, I th-think so.”

“Leave this last cat to me,” he ordered, turning to face the panther demon.

“Gladly,” Kagome answered, pressing her hand against the largest of her wounds.

However, the panther didn’t charge again. It paced back and forth, growling in agitation. It was almost as if the creature was waiting for something.

“What are you waiting for, you mangy cat?” Inuyasha taunted. “Come and get it.”

A woman laughed, drawing the couple’s attention. “Save your breath, dog boy. It will obey only me.”


Part II ‘Oh, no, there are three of them.’ Kagome raised her bow and aimed. ‘You can do this, Kagome. You can beat them.’ She let the arrow fly, felling the first demon. However, two more of the panther demons still remained. Ignoring the tremors in her hands, the girl drew another arrow and fired once more. However, she was not as lucky as she had been in her first shot. The demon stumbled but quickly regained its feet. Roaring, it rejoined its companion in the charge. ‘I only have time for one more shot. They’re just too fast. It’s not going to be enough!’ Even as those thought crossed her minds, Kagome drew yet another arrow. Her hands were steady as she aimed. She resolved to fight as long as she could. It was her only chance. * * * * * “Kilala!” The cat-like creature immediately transformed into its larger form. Sango secured her weapon before swinging astride Kirara’s back. Miroku followed, placing his staff across Sango’s abdomen. “Are you sure you can ride?” the demon exterminator asked, eying the priest’s injured shoulder. He nodded. “I’ll be fine, but we must hurry. I have a feeling that they’re going to need our help.” “Stay here, Shippo,” Sango ordered. The small demon gaped at her. “You can’t leave me here, especially if Kagome’s in danger!” “Don’t argue,” she growled. “You’d only slow us down, Shippo. Go back to village and stay with Kaede.” The fox pup wisely shut his mouth. He began to run toward the village, his whimpering carried on the wind. Assured that he was obeying her, Sango urged Kilala toward the well. Sensing the urgency, the cat-like creature ran with all her speed. “You didn’t have to be so hard on the boy, Sango,” Miroku said, his tone rebuking but gentle. She frowned, bowing her head briefly. “We don’t have time. I hope we’re not too late.” * * * * * The arrow flew. However, the uninjured panther demon easily jumped aside. Its companion was not so lucky. Roaring in pain, it collapsed into the ground. Kagome didn’t even see her accomplishment. She ran with everything she had toward the well. ‘Just a little bit further,’ she thought, running faster at the fallen panther’s roar. A wall of black suddenly appeared, blocking her path. She cried out in surprise. As she scrambled backwards, she quickly produced an arrow. The panther swung at her, knocking the bow and arrow out of her hands. Kagome screamed again. She scrambled to her feet, desperate to get away. But the creature would have none of it. It pounced, easily knocking the girl to the ground. ‘So, this is how it ends,’ she thought. It was funny. She was going to die right by the well where the whole crazy adventure began. But she couldn’t die. Not then. There were still jewel fragments to recover. Inuyasha, whether he realized it or not, would need her help to get them before Naraku. People were counting on her. “Get off of me!” The panther growled, baring its fangs. The young woman struggled violently. Yet, her attempts to throw the monster off only seemed to provoke it further. It began clawing her, drawing blood with each swipe. “Get off!” “You heard the lady!” A blur of red collided with the panther demon, sending it flying. Inuyasha risked a glance behind him. “Kagome, are you all right?” She rose shakily to her knees. “I. . .yeah, I th-think so.” “Leave this last cat to me,” he ordered, turning to face the panther demon. “Gladly,” Kagome answered, pressing her hand against the largest of her wounds. However, the panther didn’t charge again. It paced back and forth, growling in agitation. It was almost as if the creature was waiting for something. “What are you waiting for, you mangy cat?” Inuyasha taunted. “Come and get it.” A woman laughed, drawing the couple’s attention. “Save your breath, dog boy. It will obey only me.”


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